"Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns,
or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but
a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth
not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their
fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:15-20).

I am thrilled to be able
to tell you a false teacher is giving up preaching. I can't begin to tell you
the damage this individual has done in the short time I have known of him. I'm
thrilled because he won't be perverting the Word of God on a weekly basis to
a congregation whose elders were warned about hiring him. The only thing which
would have made this situation better is if he had put his arrogance aside,
repented of his sins and gone about restoring those he has led down Satan's
path.

The words of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ give warning of false teachers who would lead the flock
of God astray. He revealed their identifying mark -- we will be able to know
they are false teachers by their fruit (teaching, doctrine). Jesus also warned,
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many...For there
shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and
wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect"
(Matt. 24:11,24).

The inspired Peter predicted,
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall
be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."
The sad result of their false teaching is that "many shall follow their
pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of"
(2 Peter 2:1-2).

The Lord's church has had
plenty of false, deceiving, corrupt teachers arising from the inside. We have
been plagued with supporters of false doctrines that have divided the body of
Christ. More damage and destruction is often accomplished when men arise out
of our own midst speaking perverse things. We will always have the burden of
false prophets and teachers preaching and teaching soul damning doctrines which
lead men astray. The results of traveling down the broad way, engaged in sin,
will be destruction in eternal hell (Matt. 7:13-14).